TSP

Administered by the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, this defined contribution plan for federal employees has roughly 4,614,874 participants, and over $358 billion in assets under management. Ask your TSP questions and post related topics here.

Roth contribution vs. traditional contribution: which is better?

Options

Previous Topic Next Topic

VAer1		#1 Posted : Thursday, September 10, 2020 3:36:46 AM(UTC)
Rank: Groupie Groups: Registered Joined: 1/27/2020(UTC) Posts: 66 Location: Washington DC		I use roth contribution for employee part, but suddenly I don't know it is worth or not. Now I think: maybe traditional contribution is better, you pay no tax on traditional contribution NOW,and probably you will need to pay little tax on traditional withdrawal in the future for some reasons: 1) Retiree income is lower, and income falls into lower bracket; 2) Some states are very friendly with retirement income. Anyone has any comments?


User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

roger.d		#2 Posted : Thursday, September 10, 2020 10:20:21 AM(UTC)
Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered Joined: 8/25/2016(UTC) Posts: 4,583 Location: Midwest Thanks: 173 times Was thanked: 1032 time(s) in 799 post(s)		See if this is helpful. https://www.bogleheads.o.../Traditional_versus_Roth


User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

someoldguy		#3 Posted : Saturday, September 12, 2020 5:45:25 AM(UTC)
Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered Joined: 10/28/2013(UTC) Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 319 times Was thanked: 945 time(s) in 794 post(s)		I would do the Roth... pay the tax now while you're working. Then you don't have to worry about additional tax later. Taxes can only go up from here :(
		DISCLAIMER: You read it on an open internet forum :)


User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

roger.d		#4 Posted : Saturday, September 12, 2020 7:46:43 PM(UTC)
Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered Joined: 8/25/2016(UTC) Posts: 4,583 Location: Midwest Thanks: 173 times Was thanked: 1032 time(s) in 799 post(s)		Though I agree that taxes are only able to go up, there is compelling evidence that someone might want to us a traditional retirement account. If you are a point where the reduction in income by using a traditional account would take you below a tax bracket, then your Roth contributions would be taxed at a lower rate. If you State does not tax certain retirement accounts, you could avoid the tax when you earn it, and when you with draw it. Do you plan to move to a no income tax state in retirement? You could avoid that tax when you earn it, and when you take it out. There is the "standard deduction" in the tax code. So some of the traditional account will come out tax free. It is a lot of number crunching. I have decided to use the Roth accounts. The Agency matching goes into a Traditional account, to be taxed at the time of withdraw. I am to far into the next tax bracket to be able to get below that mark. Edited by user Saturday, September 12, 2020 7:47:37 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified


User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

Rss Feed

Atom Feed

Users browsing this topic
Guest

Forum Jump

You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.

This page was generated in 0.216 seconds.